CLU hosting World AIDS Day 2007

Ventura County’s commemoration of World AIDS Day 2007 will include presentations, a candlelight vigil and an art exhibit at California Lutheran University.

The keynote event of “Take the Lead: Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise!” will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, in Samuelson Chapel. Karen G. Cheng, Ph.D., a professor at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, and John K. Williams, M.D., associate director of the UCLA Sexual Health Program, will discuss the need to address local and global HIV/AIDS challenges with innovation, vision and perseverance.

At 8:30 p.m. following the presentation, participants will take a candlelit walk from the chapel to the Kwan Fong Gallery of Art and Culture for a short vigil.

At 9 p.m., a reception for an HIV/AIDS exhibit will begin. Artist Christophe Cassidy of Culver City will unveil the 24-foot mural he is creating for the gallery. AIDS activism memorabilia will also be on display. The show will run through Saturday, Dec. 15.

The commemoration will begin at 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 3, with a screening of “Girl, Positive” and a question-and-answer session with sexual health educators in Preus-Brandt Forum. In the movie, a teen finds out her former partner may have been HIV positive.

“Positively Speaking – Local Voices of HIV/AIDS,” featuring a panel of Ventura County residents who will share their experiences and answer questions about living with HIV/AIDS, will take place at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 4, in Rooms 119 and 120 of the Soiland Humanities Building.

During “The Risks & Realities of HIV/AIDS” at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 4 in Soiland 119 and 120, a trained group of CLU students will lead an interactive hour of education and small group discussions. A free pizza dinner will be served.

All events are free and open to the public. The university’s Center for Equality and Justice is sponsoring the activities with assistance from the Ventura County HIV/AIDS Coalition and several CLU departments.

CLU is located at 60 W. Olsen Road in Thousand Oaks. For more information, contact the center at (805) 493-3694 or CEJ@callutheran.edu.